Dahal tells RJPN he'll quit this week

Dahal tells RJPN he'll quit this week

The second phase of the elections on June 14 will be
held during the tenure of NC President Sher Bahadur Deuba.

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has said that he
will step down from the post this week.

During a meeting with Rastriya Janata Party Nepal
(RJPN) leaders at his official residence at Baluwatar on Monday morning, Prime
Minister Dahal informed them that he is stepping down as per the understanding
reached with the coalition partner, Nepali Congress (NC).

“The prime minister had invited us to hold
discussions for holding the second phase of the polls. He informed that he is
stepping down from the government as per the understanding reached earlier with
the Nepali Congress,” one of the members of the RJPN presidium, Rajendra
Mahato, told Republica.

Dahal, however, had clarified that the current
coalition would continue even if Dahal hands over the government leadership to
NC. The second phase of the elections on June 14 will be held during the tenure
of NC President Sher Bahadur Deuba.

According to Mahato, Dahal had asked how he could
create environment for holding local polls in the tarai districts in the second
phase. In reply, the RJPN leaders had asked the government to endorse the
constitution amendment bill that is already in parliament and create conducive
environment for the polls.

In response,
Prime Minister Dahal had said that the government would leave no stone unturned
to ensure endorsement of the bill, which the government plans to put to vote on
Thursday. Dahal also asked RJPN leaders to seek support from the Rastriya
Prajatantra Party for the bill's endorsement.

An attempt by
the government to endorse the bill before the first phase of the local polls
had failed as 10 lawmakers from the RPP skipped a parliament meeting apparently
to avoid voting in favor of the amendment bill. “The prime minister has asked
us to participate in the polls no matter what the fate of the amendment bill,”
said Mahato.

On the
occasion, Madhesi leaders had raised the issue of withdrawal of police cases
against their cadres, compensation for those killed or injured and martyrs'
status for those killed in the course of the Madhes agitation. While informing
that the government had already released Rs 120 million for the purpose of
compensation, Prime Minister Dahal had said that the next cabinet meeting would
declare those killed as martyrs and release the Madhesi party cadres from jail.